A sin bin to Jayden Sullivan proved costly for the St George Illawarra Dragons, with debate raging over the circumstances behind his departure from the field against the North Queensland Cowboys.
The young half was brought into the starting side late at halfback with Ben Hunt moving to hooker in his 300th game.
Hunt was back in that position in the first half due to Sullivan being given his marching orders in the 19th minute.
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Referee Chris Butler judged the youngster had performed a professional foul for holding on too long in the tackle.
Sullivan then proceeded to plead his innocence before screaming as he left the field.
“(Ben) Hunt argues the case but Sullivan’s off to the sin bin – he’s saying, ‘I’m innocent, I was being held, I was tangled’,” Andrew Voss said on commentary for Fox League.
“He was caught underneath, that’s an absolute mess, like, that’s late-night Twister.”
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Balmain great Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach believed Sullivan was hard done by.
“I think that’s a tough call, I think Feldt was yelling out to the referee that they won’t let him off … someone had to go I suppose,” he said.
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Sullivan left the field with the score at 6-6 and by the time his 10 minutes had ended the Cowboys were ahead 22-6.
The 21-year-old didn’t return to the field after the sin bin with Moses Mbye moving to hooker and Hunt at halfback.
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